HimVani
Shimla (May 8): The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked the state government to bring out a white paper on Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) with respect to land given, terms and conditions of five star hotel, sponsorship to HPCA through various cement companies , changes in the constitution of the cricket body in the last 10 years , details of membership, etc. Besides, the government should also specify the help it has rendered to other sports in the state, it has asked.
Accusing the government of showing unnecessary benevolence towards HPCA, member, state secretariat, CPIM, Tikender Singh Panwar said the cricket association that has become a fiefdom of BJP and its youth front has got a fillip from various corporate houses. The CPIM has further alleged that the constitution of the association has been so amended that it will remain a fiefdom for all times to come. The CPIM has stated the sports body has been allowed to build a five star hotel which is not the perspective of the sports association. “The details of the land allotment done to the association along with the sponsorship that has been given must be made public. The BJP had opposed the SKI village and one of the basis has been that there have been no tenders for that , then why should the same logic not be applied to HPCA where letter of interest could have come from many international chains of hotels. If it is true that the government has provided land to HPCA for the construction of a five star hotel, then why just the HPCA ? Why did Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation not get the same opportunity or any other firm of repute for that matter?,” the party has demanded.
The party has demanded that a comprehensive sports act be framed under which all sports bodies should be recognized. Further, there must be a democratic content where regular elections are held from bottom to top. Further, efforts have to be made where sportsperson are at the helm of affairs and not political personnel who use the wide ambit of sports for their personal and financial gains.”